Description
Creamy sausage rigatoni delivers comfort on a plate, blending Italian-inspired flavors with rich, hearty ingredients. Generous portions of pasta, sausage, and a silky sauce promise a satisfying meal you’ll savor with every delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 15 ounces (425 grams) Italian sausage, crumbled
Pasta & Vegetables:
- 8 ounces (227 grams) uncooked rigatoni
- 5 ounces (142 grams) fresh spinach
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Liquids & Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) chicken broth
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
- 15 ounces (425 grams) tomato sauce or marinara
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning or herbs de provence
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Red pepper flakes to taste
Instructions
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high heat. Crumble sausage and sauté for 5 minutes until thoroughly browned and cooked through. Carefully drain any accumulated fat.
- Incorporate uncooked rigatoni, chicken broth, heavy cream, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and tomato sauce into the skillet. Elevate heat and bring the mixture to a vigorous boil.
- Reduce heat to medium-low, cover the skillet, and simmer for 12-14 minutes. Stir contents periodically to prevent pasta from adhering to the bottom of the pan and ensure even cooking.
- Once pasta reaches al dente consistency, remove lid and fold fresh spinach into the creamy mixture. Allow spinach to gently wilt from the residual heat, which typically takes 1-2 minutes.
- Taste the dish and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Let the rigatoni rest for 2-3 minutes to allow sauce to thicken before serving hot.
Notes
- Customize Meat Choose spicy or mild sausage based on preference, or swap with ground turkey for a leaner option.
- Avoid Sticking Stir pasta frequently and add extra broth if mixture seems dry to prevent burning or sticking to pan.
- Dietary Modifications Replace heavy cream with plant-based milk or Greek yogurt for lower-fat version, and use gluten-free pasta for celiac-friendly meal.
- Quick Vegetable Boost Experiment with different greens like kale or Swiss chard instead of spinach for varied nutrition and flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg